About Us

The Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group (UCAG) was founded in May 2022 in Vancouver, as a direct response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our founders—Ukrainians, immigrants, and descendants of the diaspora—came together around a shared urgency: to preserve Ukrainian culture and help those whose lives were shattered by war.

One of those founders, Olga Prodan, a trained somatic therapist and former parliamentary assistant in Ukraine, saw a deep and unmet need: thousands of children were grieving the loss of a parent killed in combat, with little to no psychological support available. These children were not only mourning their loved ones—they were losing their sense of safety, trust, and self. Olga and UCAG’s team knew that true well-being required more than survival; it meant healing, resilience, and the chance to grow beyond trauma.

UCAG launched the Rehabilitation Program for the Children of Fallen Heroes—a two-week therapeutic retreat in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains followed by months of remote care. Through nature, movement, art, storytelling, and peer support, children rediscover emotional safety and begin to transform pain into strength.

At the same time, UCAG’s work in Canada preserves Ukrainian identity through cultural events and creative expression, giving the diaspora and allies space to grieve, celebrate, and stay connected.